The EU and China, condemned to understand each other
The rapprochement between Europe and China, facilitated in some ways by Donald Trump and his trade war, is taking shape with increasingly clear gestures. The latest was this past Tuesday, when both powers agreed to eliminate mutual sanctions to begin a new chapter in their bilateral relations. The gesture coincided with the fiftieth anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic relations between Brussels and Beijing, an event that has already led to a commitment to a round of meetings that should materialize soon.
The new climate between China and the European Union, of course, stems from the realization that the Asian giant is today as much a rival as a necessary partner. In a context in which transatlantic relations with the United States are at an all-time low, the community bloc is seeking new global ties that, incidentally, should not end with China. But, in any case, sharing a common adversary like Trump will not spare the European Union from a difficult negotiation, one that will most likely be fraught with obstacles and contradictions.
To begin with, there is the hottest issue of the tariff war, which has led both parties to seek to reconfigure their trade relations. The new chapter will involve improving mutual understanding and trust and, in the case of Europe, also poses the challenge of defending its democratic values and respect for human rights.
The EU has an obligation to approach the negotiations, ensuring balanced rules of the game for the interests of its companies. The automotive sector will be one of the key tests. It also cannot be overlooked that, as a result of White House policies, the Asian giant has seen its exports to the US plummet, and therefore, huge quantities of Chinese goods are now seeking new markets. The danger of further flooding the European market with low-priced products has surely already been clearly recognized by European negotiators, who will have to try to correct the current unbalanced trade balance.
As if that weren't enough, the grave geopolitical context in which this attempt at rapprochement is taking place is no small feat. The war in Ukraine, in particular, is a major obstacle to any agreement moving forward. This very week, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held hands in Moscow. Both displayed ties that are very uncomfortable for an EU that is failing to exert its strength to stop the conflict and is, instead, sidelined by Trump himself, who has taken on the role of mediator with Putin.
Be that as it may, with the rapprochement with China, European partners are seeking to redraw the map of their alliances. And this is also a major challenge for an EU that, in parallel, must manage its own disunity. Global instability requires working on a community strategy that also involves strengthening the continent by boosting European technological development to guarantee its sovereignty in strategic areas and to assume any bilateral negotiations (with China or anyone else) with greater force.
